Can-opener.



No. 778,678. PATENTED DEG. 2'7, 1904. J. M. KEEP.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1904.

Patented December 27, 1904;.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. KEEP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,673, dated December 2'7, 1904.

Application filed August 27, 1904;. Serial No. 222,452.

To all 1071 0122, it Duty concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. KEEP, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can-openers,well-knowndevices used foropening tin cans such as are in common use for preserving vegetables, fruits, meats, milk, paints, &c. As usually made can-openers are fraught with objections, some of which turn the ragged edge of the tin upward, rendering them dangerous even unto death, impracticable, and none of them are of universal adaptation. They are deficient in durability and not susceptible of being operated by persons of feeble strength or insuflicient intelligence.

The object of my invention is to obviate all of these objections, to produce a can-opener at a nominal cost extremely simple of construction, durable, compact, and adapted to the opening of tin cans of any appropriate shape or size and for whatever purpose, one that may be effectually operated by a child or person of feeble strength and of ordinary intelligence, and one that will turn the raw edge of the tin inward and downward, thus rendering its use absolutely safe, and one that is especially adapted to performing the double operation of cutting out the entire top of the can, or any portion thereof, and of simply suitably puncturing the can upon opposite sides when a discharge and vent opening are required, as in evaporated cream, condensed milk, liquid paints, &c., all as hereinafter fully described, shown, and explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my canopener complete. Fig. 2 is a section showing the longer blade in position for perforating for discharge or vent. Fig. 3 is a section in position and in the act of cutting out all or a portion of the top of a can. Fig. A is a view of the blade detached from the handle.

Like letters refer to like parts, as H, handle; B, blade; C, can; D and E, cutting edges invention is in the peculiar construction of a double cutting-blade, or perhaps two blades in one, as shown in Fig. 4. These I blank with a suitable die from sheet-steel of about three thirty-seconds of an inch thick. The angles are parallel with each other and beveled, preferably on opposite sides, to form the sharp cutting edge E. On one side a portion of the blade is extended beyond the opposite side, (see Fig. A) thus to form an independent cuttingblade for purposes hereinafter explained. The edges of the blades are formed at'parallel angles of about forty-five degrees with the shorter blade. This angle terminates on a line with the back or longer side of the independent blade, thus giving a barbed or hook shape to the cutting edge. The upper corners of the blade adjacent to the shank are rounded for a purpose. The double cuttingblade being completed substantially as shown and described and suitably tempered, it is complete, and when the shank is driven into a suitable handle my improved can-opener is completed. (See Fig. 1.)

The method of operating and the results are as follows: Place the point of the blade in desired position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and there with one hand hold it. Then with a gentle blow with the other open hand upon the broad top of the handle force the cuttingblade through the tin. The oblique cutting edges of the blades create sharp points, which by slight pressure, as a blow with the open hand, easily penetrate the tin, and then they will cut with a shear to the extent of their width: As shown in Fig. 2, the longer blade is in position and in the act of perforating the tin for a discharge or vent opening. As shown in Fig. 3, the shorter blade is in position and in the act of cutting out all or any portion of the can. For this purpose the shorter blade is made in hook or barbed form, which admits when being forced through the tin of the sharp point first piercing the tin, thereby locking the blade in position and completing the cut with a downward shear.

In cutting out the top of a can, as shown in Fig. 3, the entire blade is first forced through the tin near the edge of the can and then withdrawn. The longer blade being returned serves as a guide to the hooked cutter as it is moved around the can in either direction and repeatedly struck with the open hand to force the shorter blade through the tin. The upper corners of the blade are rounded to prevent their catching if driven through the tin, thus insuring the easy withdrawal of the blade. Thecutting of the tin being downward, the edge of the tin is smoothly turned inward and downward, thereby avoiding the exposure of ragged and dangerous edges of the tin. To puncture vent and discharge openings, place the point of the longer blade near the edge of the can with the shorter blade projecting over the edge of the can, as shown in Fig. 2. Then a slight blow of the open hand upon the top of the handle will easily force the cutter through the tin and form the opening.

The simplicity of my device and its operation seem quite sufhcient to explain its universal adaptation to the opening of cans of any size or shape. As such I believe there is no other. I have suggested forcing the cutters through the tin by a gentle blow of the open hand upon the broad top of the handle. Perforating for the vent or discharge, the independent blade may be pushed through the tin with facility, and so it may be operated in cutting out the top. I prefer the stroke of the hand. A few trials will determine the best method and the practical application of my invention.

Having shown and fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A can-opener comprising a metal blade, having an angular portion cut away from one side at the lower end to form with the remaining portion of the blade a bifurcated blade with the lower edge of each bifurcation beveled to form a pointed cutting edge, substantially as shown and described.

2. A can-opener comprising a metal blade,

having an angular portion cut away at one side at the lower end to form with theremam- .ing portion of the blade a bifurcated blade JAMES M. KEEP.

Vitnesses:

A. L. VAN NEss, N. F. BRINKERHOFF. 

